A magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck 61 miles northwest of Duluth, Minnesota, on August 6, 2025, according to data released by earthquake monitoring organizations.
The event, reported at 12:41 PM Chicago time, is the most recent seismic activity recorded near the state as of today. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and VolcanoDiscovery.com both demonstrate a pattern of minor tremors in the region throughout 2024 and 2025, primarily concentrated northwest of Duluth. Magnitude readings have ranged from 2.5 to 2.9.
While these quakes are relatively small, they represent a notable increase in seismic events within Minnesota. EarthquakeTrack.com data indicates that, prior to 2025, Minnesota experienced infrequent quakes of magnitude 1.5 or greater. The site’s records show no earthquakes reported in the state during the past 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days, but does list a 2.8 magnitude quake near North Mankato in April 2017 and a 2.5 magnitude quake near Mountain Iron in August 2015.
The recent activity has prompted some discussion online, with social media users expressing surprise at the occurrence of earthquakes in a region not typically associated with seismic activity. The cause of the increased tremors remains unknown.
According to the Minnesota earthquake report, an average of zero earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 186 miles of the state in the past 10 years. No earthquake stronger than magnitude 6 has been recorded in Minnesota since 1900. The USGS reported a mining explosion 4 km NNE of Virginia, Minnesota on March 27, 2025, registering a magnitude of 0.0.
EarthquakeList.org updates its data every minute, and currently shows no further seismic activity in the region. The USGS’s Latest Earthquakes application remains active, providing ongoing monitoring of seismic events across the United States.
